WAILUA — For the past 11 years, a community thrift store has had its share of break-ins, but managers say four break-ins already this year is too much. Burglars are kicking in doors at the Hoomana thrift store, 4531 Kuamoo Road,
WAILUA — For the past 11 years, a community thrift store has had its share of break-ins, but managers say four break-ins already this year is too much.
Burglars are kicking in doors at the Hoomana thrift store, 4531 Kuamoo Road, trashing the place and taking high-end items such as dressers, mattresses, jewelry and electronics, said program co-directors Rowena Pangan and Anela Pa.
“They just throw stuff all over the place and it takes us a whole day to clean up,” Pangan said.
The store across from Coco Palms is one component of the nonprofit organization of the same name. Its main focus is as a training site that teaches job and life skills to special needs children and young adults.
“It’s a good thing that we have wonderful volunteers to help us put things together,” said Pa. “We are getting used to picking up and moving on.”
The losses, collectively, are in the thousands, she said. This year’s break-ins occurred in February, March, April, and the last one was on Friday.
“They took an antique vanity and a bed,” Pangan said.
Kauai police are investigating, but have not been able to identify any suspects, Pangan said.
A volunteer installed a video camera and the computer recorded two individuals wearing black hooded jackets, black eyeglasses and jeans breaking into the store. But the thieves stole the camera that very night.
“They came in and pulled the entire system off the wall and took it with them,” Pa said. “The only other thing that we could see was a rocking chair flying in the air. We thought it was a ghost and then we saw them on the camera.”
The management has soured on the idea of another self-installed security system and is working with a consultant on something that is effective and less vulnerable. They are seeking a grant or community support to fund the professional set up. Customers and volunteers are keeping an eye out for stolen items on Craigslist, Kauai Buy and Sell and other sites.
Neighboring businesses that open earlier or close later are keeping an eye on the building as well.
What breaks the hearts of the two full-time managers and one part-time staff is the thought that former volunteers could be among the burglars. The suspicions arose when items that were hidden went missing without much disarray.
“Sometimes it seems almost as if the person is familiar with the organization,” Pangan said. “They seem to know where to go and where to look.”
Other times the offices or the front register area is ransacked by people probably searching for cash. Managers remove all money from the store each day.
“If they are looking for money they should know that it is not left here,” Pa said.
The thrift store is a mini-warehouse with 8,000 square feet of items. Unless it’s a large or expensive item, then it’s hard to know what’s missing, Pa said.
“This effects the morale of the people who work in the store and the shoppers too,” Pa said. “We are a small nonprofit and we love our pennies and like counting our pennies. Every little bit helps.”
The community nonprofit thrift store will turn 11 years old this October.
The building is on DLNR property that is leased to the Smith family, which in turn allows the thrift store to operate in part to fulfill the rehabilitative purpose requirement of the agreement, Pangan said. They are in the process of trying to get the lease outright in the organization’s name.
The store runs with the help of volunteers from the Department of Human Resources. The volunteer hours satisfy the requirements of welfare, public housing and other benefits.
“In return, they receive work experience and our benefit is to the operational side of the thrift store being run by volunteers,” Pa said.
The First to Work and WorkWise kupuna programs and the star Judiciary sends over community service people. They partner with vocational rehabilitation programs of the Department of Education to teach job and life skills.
They created a financial literacy program to help teach the young volunteers the value of a dollar by paying them with Moohana bucks. Then, they created a more sophisticated program by paying them with Moohana checks so they can manage a checking account with the Moohana bank.
The goal is to help them learn to live independently by understanding the difference between needs and wants, Pangan said.
The store is also a donation center for old prom dresses to help students who can’t afford a new one. Volunteers help out with hair and makeup.
